Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation has launched its new Club Ranking system, a move which heralds a fresh approach to how the fortunes of the region’s top sides are viewed.
The AFC Club Ranking, which will be updated throughout the season, is based on the results of teams participating in the last four years of the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup, as well as their respective Member Associations’ overall club performances in those competitions during the same period.
The initial list sees Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, beaten AFC Champions League finalists in 2014, currently ranked first having amassed 106 points. Korea Republic outfit FC Seoul, who were beaten to the AFC Champions League title by Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013, are second, while Saudi powerhouse Al Ittihad occupy third.
Kuwait’s Qadsia SC, who lifted this season’s AFC Cup crown, sit in 23rd position, with 2014 AFC Champions League winners Western Sydney Wanderers a mere four places behind in 25th despite this year being their inaugural continental campaign.
Click here to view the AFC Club Rankings
Speaking of the development AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has hailed the historic development, adding that the transparent initiative will help generate even more interest in the confederation’s already popular club competitions.
“This is the first time that we are introducing this system in the history of the AFC and we are hopeful that the AFC Club Ranking will ensure a higher level of sporting competition among the clubs in Asia, and further enhance the standards of our continental competitions,” Shaikh Salman said.
“The success of our club competitions has been truly exemplary, but we are not resting on our laurels as we are constantly looking to further boost their appeal.
“We believe this transparent ranking system, which is based on clubs' technical performance, will not only develop the sporting aspect but it will also improve the commercial aspect by increasing the interest, form fans and media alike, in the clubs throughout our continent,” he concluded.
How the AFC Club Ranking is determined:
The AFC Club Ranking will be based on the results of clubs participating in the last four years of the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup.
AFC Champions League points system
Playoff stage: participation 1.5 points/win 1.5 points/draw (penalty shoot-outs) 0.5 points/lose 0 point
Group stage: participation 3 points/win 3 points/draw 1 point/lose 0 point
Knock-out stage: participation in R16 3 points/participation in QF, SF and Final 1
point/win 3 points/draw (penalty shoot-outs) 1 point/lose 0 point
Playoff stage: participation 1.5 points/win 1.5 points/draw (penalty shoot-outs) 0.5 points/lose 0 point
Group stage: participation 3 points/win 3 points/draw 1 point/lose 0 point
Knock-out stage: participation in R16 3 points/participation in quarter-final, semi-final and final 1 point/win 3 points/draw (penalty shoot-outs) 1 point/lose 0 point
1 AFC Cup point is equivalent to 1/3 of a AFC Champions League point
e.g. Jeonbuk Hyundai
2010 – 15 points, 2011 – 23 points, 2012 – 14 points, 2013 – 13 points
Korea Republic (Club Competitions points for 2010-2013) – 70 points
Calculation: 15 + 23 + 14 + 13 + 14 (20% of 70 points) = 79 points